R?o Tinto, Andalucia, Spain *** Local Caption *** R?o Tinto ("Red River") is very acidic (Ph 2) and has a deep reddish hue due to iron dissolved in water. The acidity of the watercourse is linked to the drainage of pyrite, which is very present in the subsoil. Extremophilic and endemic bacteria and algae colonize the river bed, forming a fragile biofilm that evokes the hot springs of Yellowstone Park in the USA.

pinus sp archaea pinus pinaceae coniferales / pinales coniferopsida / coniferophyta angiospermae spermatophyta / phanerogamae tracheophyta embryophyta chlorobionta archaeplastida eukaryota pinus sp archaea rock (stone) river freshwater spring cloud spring ferruginous water mine copper iron overview red tree pine (pinus sp) colorful pinus rust andalusia autonomous community sulphur blue sky may archaea iron fe water surface oxide nobody rocks (stone) rivers freshwater source freshwater sources freshwater springs cloudy clouds cloudy sky ferruginous waters ferrous water ferrous waters underground mines mines underground mine deep mining overviews global sight global sights full length reds carmine magenta carmines magentas trees pines (pinus sp) colourful rudy colorfully colored rusty andalusia andalucia blue skies good weather nice weather archaebacteria archaebacterium water surfaces watersurface watersurfaces with nobody rock fragment mineral matter matter (substance) body of water freshwater wetland area area sky meteorological phenomenon atmosphere temperate season seasons water (matter) mining industry economic activity shot colour woody plant morphology (botany) morphology organism pinaceae family conifer gymnosperm spermatophyte flora pinaceae coniferales / pinales coniferopsida / coniferophyta angiospermae spermatophyta / phanerogamae tracheophyta embryophyta chlorobionta archaeplastida eukaryota corrosion degraded matter spain european union europe bacterium microorganism solid chemical element chemical element mineral individual